Fireplace



Feb. 17, 1970 c. w. ISTAAITS FIREPLACE Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Feb. 17, 1967 INVENTOR. CHARLES W. STAATS ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 19 70 STAATS FIREPLACE 2 She'ets-Sheet '2 Filed Feb. 17, 1967 a INVENTOR. CHARLES w. STAATS BY 34-25.. CH1

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,496,335 FIREPLACE Charles W. Staats, 132 Beverly Road, Hempstead, N.Y. 11550 Filed Feb. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 616,836 Int. Cl. F24h 9/02 US. Cl. 219-343 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A prefabricated firebox comprises a hood, a firebox, and a hearth, fixed to a back plate which is releasably mountable to a wall. A heater-blower is disposed within the assembly and is adapted to take air in from air intake openings located in the understide of the hood laterally overhanging the firebox, to heat the air and blow it out the front of the firebox over pseudo burning logs. The heater-blower is releasably mounted within the assembly by a notch and bar arrangement. A pseudo flue is releasably mounted on the hood by a tongue and groove coupling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to prefabricated fireplaces, which may be wall hung and electrically powered.

Description of the prior art Prefabricated fireplaces which may be wall hung are well known, and generally may be of either of two types, gas powered or electrically powered. A gas powered fireplace is disclosed in US. 3,174,475. A gas powered fireplace requires the installation of a gas line and a flue, which is inconvenient; and since the heating unit is shaped to appear as flaming logs, is relatively inefiicient in heating the airspace of the room in which the fireplace is hung. Electrically powered fireplaces have the advantages of ease of hook-up, since only an electrical connection is required without a flue, and may incorporate a forced-air system to efliciently heat the airspace of the room.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a prefabricated fireplace which may be rapidly and conveniently assembled from modular components and hung on a Wall, and which has an improved air flow for the forced air system.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a basic hearth, firebox, and hood assembly with mean for removably mounting therein a forced air heating unit, and means for providing an unobstructed flow of air to said heating unit. Another feature is the provision of a coupling means whereby a pseudo flue may be removably mounted to the hood assembly.

Brief description of the drawing These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

.FIG. 1 is a perspective view in elevation of an embodiment of this invention as hung on wall;

3,496,335 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fireplace comprises a hearth 10, and a hood 12, which are both fixed to a back plate 14, a fire screen 16 which is supported from the hood 12, and a fiue 18 which is supported on the hood 12. The back plate 14 is supported on a bracket 20 which is fixed to the wall 22.

The back plate 14 comprises a trapezoidal upper portion 14a, a rectangular lower portion 14b which is integral and coplanar with the upper portion, and two side portions 14c which are integral with and perpendicular to the lower portion. A plurality of apertures 24 are provided in the back plate, advantageously of key-hole shape. The bracket 20 has a like plurality of hooks 26 which are fixed to a cross-bar 28 which, in turn, is fixed to the studs in the wall. The hooks are advantageously upwardly-outwardly directed, so that when they are disposed through the apertures 24 in the back plate, the back plate will be wedged downwardly thereon, flush, or at least parallel, to the wall.

The hearth 10 is fixed to the lower margin of the rectangular lower portion 14b of the back plate. The hearth comprises a peripheral side wall 32 which has a lower margin bent up to form a flange 32a, and an upper margin bent down to form a flange 32b. A rectangular base plate 34 is secured under and to the lower flange 32a by suitable means, such as screws 36. A pan 38, having a peripheral side wall 40, a bent down margin to form a flange 42, and a bottom 44 is secured within the hearth. The front and side parts of the flange 42 are secured under and to the corresponding parts of the flange 32b, while the rear part of the flange 42 is secured over and to the corresponding part of the flange 32b, by suitable means, such as spot welding. A decorative trim 46 is secured to front and sides of the hearth. The rear part of the side wall 32 is secured to the bam plate, by suitable means, such as screws 48.

A firebox 50 is fixed to the hearth 10 and the side portion 14c of the back plate. The firebox has a substantially channel shape and comprises a rear wall part 52, two side wall parts 54, two front wall parts 56 and two side marginal parts 58. The lower margins of the rear wall part 52 and the two side wall parts 54 are fixed to the corresponding parts of the peripheral side wall 40 of the pan 38 by suitable means, such as screws 60. The upper portions of the two side wall parts 54 are fixed to the corresponding side portions 14c of the back plate. A crossbar 61 extends across the front of the firebox 50 and is secured to the upper margins of the front wall parts 56, by suitable means, such as spot welds.

The shelf members 62 are respectively secured to the firebox 50 and to the trapezoidal portion 14a of the back plate. Each shelf comprises a quadrilateral bottom part 64, and bent up margins forming flanges 66, 68, 70. The flange 66 is secured to the upper marginal portion of the side wall 54 of the firebox, and the flange 68 is secured to the lower marginal portion of the trapezoidal part 14a of the back plate, by suitable means, such as screws 72.

Two angle brackets 74 are respectively secured to the bottom parts 64 of the shelf members 62, by suitable means, such as screws 76, and a rod 78 is captured between the two shelf members 62 through apertures in the respective flanges 66.

Two fire screens 16 are respectively secured in part to the angle brackets 74 and to the rod 78. A side portion 80a of each screen is respectively secured, as by screws, to the bracket 74, and hangs therefrom. A front portion 80b of each screen is mounted to and movable along the rod 78 by suitable rings 82. The bottom of the screens is spaced above the hearth.

The hood 12 is fixed to the trapezoid portion 14a of the back plate. The hood comprises a front wall 88 having top and side margins bent over to provide flanges 90, and a bottom margin bent over to provide a flange 92. The hood also comprises a top 94 and two sidewalls 96 each having forward margins bent over to provide flanges 98 for securement to the corresponding flanges 90, and having rearward margins bent over to provide flanges 100 for securement to the periphery of the trapezoidal portion of the back plate. Each side wall has a bottom margin bent over to form a flange 102. A right angle trim 104 is secured to the corresponding flanges 92 and 102.

A heater-blower assembly 110 is disposed under the hood to provide a flow of warm air from the fireplace into the surrounding airspace. The heater-blower assembly comprises a tubular wall 112 in which is secured a crossbracket 114 which supports an electrical heating element 116. An electric motor 118 having an impeller 120 mounted to its output shaft is supported by a U-shaped bracket 122 fixed to the wall 112. A diametrical notch 124 is formed in the wall 112 and a curved bracket 126 is fixed to the wall 112 perpendicular to the notch by suitable means, such as a rivet 128. The assembly is fixed in place by passing it up under the hood, then lowering the diametrical notch over the bar 61, and then tipping the assembly rearwardly until the bracket 126 hooks over the top of the rear wall 52 of the firebox 50 and the corners of the bar 61 into the surfaces of the diametrical notch 124. To avoid vibration in use, the bracket 126 is secured to the rear wall 52 by a releasable means, such as a thumb screw 130. In use, an unobstructed airflow is provided down through the front portion of the fire screen 80b. Air flows in through the gap between the flange 70 and the flange 102 on each side of the hood into the hood and is heated by the assembly 110 and blown out and down through the front gap between the hood and the hearth.

A pseudo burning log assembly 140 comprising pseudo logs 142, a colored translucent drum 144 rotated by an electric motor 146 and illuminated by an electric light bulb 148 is disposed in the pan 38 to provide a fire effect.

A pseudo flue 18 may be provided for the fireplace. In this case, a rapid coupling means is provided sandwiching a relatively small plate 150 and a relatively large plate 152 to the top plate 94 of the hood, by suitable means, such as screws 153. The flue has a front wall 154, two side walls 156, and two marginal rear walls 158. The bottom margins of the front and side walls are bent inwardly to provide respective front and side flanges 160 and 162. The width of the plate 152 is made substantially equal to the Width of the top plate 94 less the thickness of the two side walls 156. The smaller plate 150 provides three channels to respectively receive the three flanges 160 and 162. The rear margin of the plate 152 is bent up to form a flange to abut the rear wall of the flue, to align the flue with the hood.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wall mounted heating appaartus comprising:

a back and side plate member including means for releasably mounting it to a wall;

a hood fixedly mounted to said back and side plate member having a downwardly, forwardly directed opening;

a firebox fixedly mounted to said back and side plate member having a forwardly and upwardly directed opening;

said hood overhanging said firebox laterally on each side thereof, and having an air intake opening in each laterally overhanging portion;

a heater-blower releasably mounted within said hood, having an air intake in flow communication with said lateral air intake openings of said hood, and an air output in flow communication with said forwardly directed openings of said hood and said firebox.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said heaterblower includes side means having two diametrically spaced apart, longitudinally directed notches therein, and one of said group comprising said hood and said firebox includes a transversely supported bar having relatively sharp corners, said heater-blower being mounted on said bar by said side means, said notches being disposed onto said bar and rotated with respect thereto, whereby at least two sharp corners of said bar dig into the respective edges of said side means defining each of said notches.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the back of said firebox is spaced forwardly from said back and side plate member and said side means includes a hook shaped projection adapted to fit over the top edge of said back of said firebox when said notches are rotated on said bar.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a pseudo flue releasably mounted to said hood by coupling means;

said coupling means including a pair of laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed and laterally, outwardly opening grooves formed on one of said group consisting of said hood and said flue, and a pair of mating, laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed laterally inwardly projecting tongues formed on the other of said group, whereby said flue may be slid rearwardly onto and into engagement with said hood.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said one of said group also has a laterally directed, and forwardly opening groove extending between said pair of grooves, and said other of said group also has a mating, laterally directed, and rearwardly projecting tongue extending between said pair of tongues.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said hood has an upstanding projection for abutting said flue for limiting said rearward siding movement of said flue on said hood.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a hearth fixedly mounted to said back and side plate member below said firebox:

a pseudo supply of combustible material disposed in said hearth and extending into said firebox;

means for causing said pseudo supply of combustible material to give the appearance of being under combustion;

said heater-blower being adapted to take in air from said lateral air intake openings in said hood, to heat such air, and to blow said air over said pseudo supply of combustible material and out the front of said apparatus.

8. A heating apparatus comprising:

a hood having a downwardly, forwardly directed opena firebox coupled to said hood having a forwardly and upwardly directed opening;

said hood overhanging said firebox laterally on each side thereof, and having an air intake opening in the underside of each laterally overhanging portion;

a heater-blower mounted within said hood, having an air intake in flow communication with said lateral air intake openings of said hood, and an air output in flow communication with said forwardly directed openings of said hood and said firebox.

9. A heating apparatus according to claim 8 said hood having a horizontal top; a flue releasably mounted to said top of the hood by coupling means; said flue having a front and sides and opening at the back; said coupling means including a pair of laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed and laterally outwardly opening grooves on top of said hood, and a pair of mating, laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed, laterally inwardly projecting tongues on said front and sides of said flue, whereby said flue may be slid rearwardly into said grooves and into engagement with said hood.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said hood has an upstanding projection for abutting said flue for limiting said rearward sliding movement of said flue on said hood.

11. A heating apparatus according to claim 8 further including container means supporting therein transversely a bar having relatively sharp corners; a heater-blower having side means having two diametrically spaced apart longitudinaly directed notches therein; said heater blower being mounted on said bar above said fire box by said side means, said notches being disposed onto said bar and rotated with respect thereto, whereby at least two sharp corners of said bar dig into the respective edges of said side means defining each of said notches.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

said container means has an additional transverse element; and

said side means includes a hook shaped projection adapted to fit over said additional transverse element when said notches are rotated on said bar.

13. A fireplace according to claim 8 further including a pseudo fl-ue releasa-bly mounted to said hood by coupling means, said coupling means including a pair of laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed and laterally outwardly opening grooves on said hood, and a pair of mating, laterally spaced apart, forwardly-rearwardly directed and laterally inwardly projecting tongues formed on said flue, whereby said flue may be slid rearwardly onto and into engagement with said hood.

14. A fireplace according to claim 8 comprising a back and side plate member;

an upper, trapezoidal shaped portion which conforms to the rear of said hood which is trapezoidal shaped; a lower rectangular shaped portion having two forwardly extending side portions, respectively at each side thereof; said hood being secured to said upper trapezoidal shaped portion; and said firebox being secured to and between said side portions, forwardly spaced from said lower, rectangular shaped portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 175,632 9/1955 Normile D2397 D. 198,193 5/1964 Rose D23-9S D. 208,445 8/1967 Toerge et a1. D23--96 D. 208,446 8/ 1967 Toerge et al. D23-96 1,608,513 8/1928 Guy 219-347 X 1,768,284 6/1930 Berry 219-344 X 2,684,244 7/1954 Brooks 106.53 2,987,328 6/1961 Curran 285424 JOSEPH V. TRUHE, Primary Examiner P. W. GOWDEY, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION February 17, 1970 Patent No. 3,496,335

Charles W. Staats It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, "Charles W. Staats, 132 Beverly Road, Hempstead, N. Y. 11550" should read Charles W. Staats, Hempstead, N. Y. assignor to Trageser Copper Works, Inc. Jamaica, N. Y. a corporation of New York Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

